Brahms - Subconscious and Genius

[Jeremy]

Here are the words of Brahms that I find very interesting. Why I find it so interesting and amazing, is that sometimes when I am just about to lose consciousness at night, I will hear the most wonderful music that is fully orchestrated. I know I've never heard it before and it's as good as the works of the great masters, but as soon as I fall completely asleep the music is gone forever. I've never really tried to bump myself fully awake at these times to write down the ideas, but I should try to do this in the future. What I am able to hear within when fully awake is nothing compared to what I hear in this state between being awake and asleep.

Here is what Brahms says about such things and his own experience:

"To realize that we are one with the Creator, as Beethoven did, is a wonderful and awe-inspiring experience. Very few human beings ever come into that realization and that is why there are so few great composers or creative geniuses in any line of human endeavor. I always contemplate all this before commencing to compose. This is the first step. When I feel the urge I begin by appealing directly to my Maker and I first ask Him the three most important questions pertaining to our life here in this world--whence, wherefore, whither? I immediately feel vibrations that thrill my whole being. These are the spirit illuminating the soul-power within, and in this exalted state, I see clearly what is obscure in my ordinary moods; then I feel capable of drawing inspiration from above, as Beethoven did. Above all, I realize at such moments the tremendous significance of Jesus' supreme revelation, 'I and my Father are One'. Those vibrations assume the forms of distinct mental images, after I have formulated my desire and resolve in regard to what I want--namely, to be inspired so that I can compose something that will uplift and benefit humanity--something of permanent value. Straightaway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies ad orchestration. Measure by measure, the finished product is revealed to me when I am in those rare, inspired moods, as they were to Tartini when he composed his greatest work--the Devil's Trill Sonata. I have to be in a semi-trance condition to get such results--a condition when the conscious mind is in temporary abeyance and the subconscious is in control, for it is through the subconscious mind, which is a part of Omnipotence, that the inspiration comes. I have to be careful, however, not to lose consciousness, otherwise, the ideas fade away."

"I always have had a definite purpose in view before invoking the Muse and entering into such a mood; and as I pointed out to you before, contemplating what Goethe, Milton and Tennyson said stimulated by fantasy to a powerful degree. Then when I felt those higher Cosmic vibrations, I knew that I was in touch with the same Power that inspired those great poets and also Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. Then the ideas which I was consciously seeking flowed in upon me with such force and speed, that I could only grasp and hold a few of them; I never was able to jot them all down; they came in instantaneous flashes and quickly faded away again, unless I fixed them on paper. The themes that will endure in my compositions all come to me in this way. It has always been such a wonderful experience that, I never before could induce myself to talk about it--even to you Joseph. I felt that I was, for the moment, in tune with the Infinite, and there is no thrill like it. I can understand why the great Nazarene attached so little importance to this life. He must have been in much closer rapport with the Infinite force of the Universe, than any poet or composer ever was, and He, no doubt had glimpses of that next plane, He called 'Heaven'." - Johannes Brahms

Abell, Arthur M., Talks with Great Composers; G. E. Schroeder, Publisher; Garmisch-Partenkirchen; 1964.

[jdillonford]

Hi, Jeremy.

" If the thinker feels that the thought most strictly his own is not his own, and recognizes the perpetual suggestion of the Supreme Intellect, the oldest thoughts become new and fertile whilst he speaks them."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Quotation and Originality"

Once in a while, I am able to retrieve musical ideas from dreams and record them.  I believe that when we are wholly attentive, and when our personal egos don't interfere, a kind of transpersonal creation takes place in which we are both "observers" and participants.  It is as if the music flows into and through us, and what we experience can be so beautiful that it is quite overwhelming.

The word "ecstasy" means, of course, "standing outside" of oneself, and many mystics report out-of-body phenomena.  These sometimes occur during "lucid dreams," when the body is asleep but the mind awakens.  When I was in my teens and early twenties, such experiences occurred often, and I was able to hear and in some cases co-create music produced by performers both visible and invisible.  The degree of clarity was variable, but at times I could single out individual instruments.

Some would link this to the physical changes that occur during adolescence, but I keep an open mind.  :-)

All the best,

Joe

[SimenN]

Funny you talked about the music while you are about to sleep, Today i did it to, i heard a fulle ochestrated perfect trumpet concerto ( it lasted for mabye 20 - 30 seconds) was not long, i cant remember how the theme goes, put it was perfect. And this is not something i have heard before. Is this what you have experienced to?

[Jeremy]

Funny you talked about the music while you are about to sleep, Today i did it to, i heard a fulle ochestrated perfect trumpet concerto ( it lasted for mabye 20 - 30 seconds) was not long, i cant remember how the theme goes, put it was perfect. And this is not something i have heard before. Is this what you have experienced to?

Yes, exactly that. I don't often hear more than 20 or 30 seconds either. It's music that's fully orchestrated and sounds great, and I know I've never heard it. I only hear it when on the border of sleep and full consciousness. But it's nearly impossible ot get the idea down on paper before it fades, if you can bump yourself fully awake at all.